Lip-reading is still evidence in UK

London,
Sat, 17 Mar 2012ANI

London, Mar 17(ANI): Chelsea captain John Terry request to not consider lip-reading evidence has been rejected by the Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London during his trial in alleged racist abuse on Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.

Terry was captured on television allegedly calling Ferdinand, 27, a "f****** black c***" in a game last October. Clips were uploaded to You Tube, where they were seen worldwide.

But the absence of any sound prompted the ex-England captain's barrister to argue in court that any evidence from lip experts should be banned because it would be just their opinion.

The footballer's QC George Carter-Stephenson told District Judge Howard Riddle that it would be wrong to hang the entire case on the testimony.

"The principal issue in relation to the lip-reading turns on the potential interpretation of one word," The Sun quoted Carter-Stephenson, as telling to the judge.

Terry, however, claims any remark he made was taken out of context. He pleads not guilty to using racially aggravated threatening, abusive or insulting words.

He refused to rule the lip evidence inadmissible before the trial gets under way this summer.

Judge Riddle said: "It would be wrong in principle to try to decide this on paper without hearing the evidence. I propose to follow what is, in my view, the invariable practice, and that's to hear all the evidence."

Police launched an investigation after a member of the public emailed the Met to complain about the star's behavior. It resulted in him being charged on December 21.he FA had also launched its own separate inquiry, but that has now been postponed until the end of the criminal case. (ANI)